Category: Conventions

Covertly carrying cupcakes

Ad Astra was good. I came home very tired and would have slept through the Backyardigans after dinner except that Monique kept watch on me and woke me up repeatedly.

So

  • Ate, Drank, Danced
  • I won 2 free books and bought 2 others
  • Talked and talked and talk to lots of people
  • Attended two very enjoyable book launches
  • Got in a water fight at the dance (totally not my fault)
  • Panelled a few times as both panelist and audience member
  • Didn’t read, didn’t write
  • Helped carry cupcakes around the hotel in as covert manner as possible
  • Sat in the dark in friends’ room as part of Earth
  • Talked some more and then said my goodbyes to many until next Ad Astra

The book launches were good. And just to pimp my friends, even though they’re probably the only ones reading this; the first was for Goblin War by[info]jimhines. He employed the audience to act as a goblin chorus to funny effect. He gave away prizes, one of which I won (collected by my minion,[info]ksumnersmith).

The second book launch was for Misspelled, edited by Julie E. Czerneda. The game this year was fun. I missed the sign up Friday (and I suck at puzzles) so I didn’t participate, but [info]ksumnersmith, [info]thesandtiger, and [info]cristalia put on a fun game for the people who did enter. It was also great to see a number of authors I know up there for their first sale, like [info]talyesin, Kell Brown, and Marc McKay.

Back from World Fantasy Convention 2007

Just one week ago I was in Saratoga Springs at the World Fantasy Convention (probably at the bar), though we were at the time having tea. Scotch came later, as it always does at these things.

I had a good time that weekend and I’m being lazy in not having posted something about it until now. So it goes.Theresa Nielsen Hayden makes a mean drink btw; Everclear and something orange. That stuff will knock you on your ass.

My wingmen John Mierau and Kell Brown were excellent company on the caffeine and red bull-fueled drive across New York, despite and the subsequent stay and return journey. Thanks to them I caved to peer pressure and bought an iPod.

I met a number of very nice people, some of whom I haven’t seen since last year, and some whom I’ve never met before. Room parties were fun (see mention of orange Everclear and Scotch). Meals were good with the exception of Saturday night, which involved a disgraceful display of customer service.

I didn’t buy nearly as many books as I thought I might. I blame my already high stack of books to read. At this point it might topple over and kill someone if I don’t start reducing it soon.

WFC 2007 report preview

Just one week ago I was in Saratoga Springs at the World Fantasy Convention (probably at the bar), though we were at the time having tea. Scotch came later, as it always does at these things.

I had a good time that weekend and I’m being lazy in not having posted something about it until now. So it goes.

[info]tnh

 makes a mean drink btw; Everclear and something orange. That stuff will knock you on your ass.

My wingmen 

[info]johnmierau

 and 

[info]kellbrown

were excellent company on the caffeine and red bull-fueled drive across New York, despite and the subsequent stay and return journey. Thanks to them I caved to peer pressure and bought an iPod.

I met a number of very nice people, some of whom I haven’t seen since last year, and some whom I’ve never met before. Room parties were fun (see mention of orange Everclear and Scotch). Meals were good with the exception of Saturday night, which involved a disgraceful display of customer service.

I didn’t buy nearly as many books as I thought I might. I blame my already high stack of books to read. At this point it might topple over and kill someone if I don’t start reducing it soon.

Back from Polaris

I returned home yesterday from the Polaris 21 convention in Toronto. It was a good time despite starting off with a hiccup.

I had four panels scheduled. One on Lost, another on Futurama, a third on continuing dramas, and a final one on Heroes. Unfortunately I missed the third one because of dinner on Saturday.

On Sunday I attended a book launch for Derwin Mak and Doug Smith’s reading as well as a three other good panels.

Ad Astra 2007

The convention is over for another year. It feels too late to write a detailed con report as so many of my friends have.

I shared a reading slot with John Mierau. They say three’s a crowd, and three was the size of our crowd for the reading. Nice to have them too given we were up against a reading by Rob Sawyer at the same time.

This year I participated in four panels without acting as moderator on any of them, which was fine. It made it easier on me. The Urban Fantasy panel was great, since it was stocked with friends. I also enjoyed the Videogames as a source of fiction panel, and the Lost panel. The worst was my Sunday morning panel on real issues in imaginary worlds. I felt unprepared and had very little to say.

I’m terrible at puzzle games, but friends of mine put on an excellent game in support of the Under Cover of Darkness anthology (out now so go buy it).

As usual there seemed too little time to talk to everyone I knew as much as I wanted. Still, it was nice to see them at all and rewarding to talk to several new people, like Jim Hines and Tony Pi (whom I’d actually met briefly before) and Rob St. Martin. And I came home with four new autographed books purchased from the wonderful staff of Bakka Phoenix book store.

Time now for me to rest up for the next con, Polaris (formerly Toronto Trek).

Ad Astra 2007 – tentative schedule

Here’s what I’ll be doing at this year’s Ad Astra convention.

Reading - The Mark and John (http://www.johnmierau.com/) show returns for another appearance.

Urban Fantasy – What is the benefit of putting the magical in the mundane? What inspires an author to set stories in the world in which they live? Does it add or subtract to the sense of immersion in the story?

Video Games and Fiction – “Will videogames have an effect on fiction, as children who grew up playing them start to publish their own stories? Are we already seeing the effects? Is it confined to the more visual medium of comics?”

Lost: Putting Together the Puzzle – Panelists and audience will put together the pieces they know from watching the show and share their theories on what it all means.

Real Issues, Imaginary Worlds – In today’s society issue based stories can seem forced or preachy, but sci fi and fantasy is often used as a medium to discuss real world issues.